Hundreds of jobs to go as Flaxby company RR Donnelley shuts

Dan Windham

Hundreds of jobs are set to be axed at a telephone book printing company based in Flaxby.

American-owned company RR Donnelley is set to close at the end of the year resulting in the ‘devastating’ loss of about 200 jobs.

Unite, the country’s largest union, is due to have talks with the management at the Flaxby plant to ascertain the causes for the closure.

Unite regional officer Chris Daly said they will be aiming to secure as many jobs as possible but admitted it was a ‘bitter-blow’ for the workforce.

He said: “These are well-paid jobs that are under threat and won’t be easily replicated in rural North Yorkshire.

“We are due to have a meeting with the management next week – the day has yet to be confirmed – with a view to securing the best deal possible for our members. Obviously, we would like to secure all the jobs under threat.”

RR Donnelly is responsible for printing telephone directories for the UK and foreign markets but had moved into other markets, such as printing Avon.

However, according to Insider Trading Report, the company has lost 6.79 per cent during the past week and dropped 6.91 per cent in the last four weeks.

“This is an American-owned company and one of the avenues we will be discussing is redeployment to another of its sites in the UK,” Mr Daly said.

“We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to support our members at what is a traumatic time for them.”